Social Democrats meet to discuss party's position

On Saturday morning leading Social Democratic Party members met to discuss their preferred position regarding possible government coalitions. After the meeting, Social Democratic chairman Jiri Paroubek told reporters that his party still prefers a temporary minority Civic Democratic government, or a grand coalition between the right-of-centre Civic Democrats and the Social Democrats. Less attractive for the Social Democrats is the possibility of a cabinet including the Christian Democrats, though Mr. Paroubek said that if the Civic Democrats justify such an offer adequately, he is willing to negotiate.

On Monday representatives of the Social Democrats' negotiating team will meet with members of the Civic Democratic Party, which has been asked to try and form a government again in the second round of government formation talks. Mr. Paroubek says that he anticipates Monday's meeting to include several different offers from the Civic Democrats.